Getting back to bed was easier said than done. Halfway through the common area, Simon sat down on the couch, gently setting Kaylee next to him. He lifted up her legs and lay them across his lap, gently rubbing her calves and feet. "Gonna tell me another morality tale about the evils of sake?" Kaylee teased. "Let me picture you naked some more?" Simon grinned. "Thought you said that would be 'difficult.'" Kaylee raked her eyes over his bare body. "I managed. Hell, I was picturin' you naked before you even started telling that story." She licked her lips and winked at him. "I never told you this, but the whole time I was sitting here with you that night, I was trying to work up the nerve to kiss you." Simon confessed. "Oh yeah?" Kaylee's smile grew as she moved closer to him and brushed her lips across his. "And then what would you have done with me?" Simon groaned and kissed her deeply, recalling all of the sleepless nights he'd spent alone in his room, all the things he'd imagined doing with Kaylee. Sliding his hands up to her shoulders, he guided her back onto the couch, laying her down without breaking their kiss. He pulled back and trailed his lips down her throat, pausing to suck lightly at her collarbone before moving lower to lick and suckle her breasts. Her moans spurred him on as he slowly worked his way down, dipping his tongue into her navel and smiling against her skin when she gasped and shuddered. He gently parted her thighs, guiding one leg up onto the back of the couch to expose her completely. He paused for a moment, just looking at her. He started slow, softly kissing his way from her clit, down her slick folds to her center, then back up. His tongue flicked out to soothe her tender, swollen flesh, delving in a little deeper when she mewled and pressed her hands into his hair. "God, Simon..." Kaylee sighed, writhing under his ministrations. "More...like that..." Simon could feel himself getting harder with every sound she made, but he ignored the urge to move back up her body and plunge into her, knowing that she had to be at least as tired and sore as he was. He swirled his tongue into her and ran it over the lips of her sex, methodically cleaning them, then moved up to suck on her clit. Kaylee gasped when she felt his hands sliding up her sides, gently cupping her breasts and squeezing her taut nipples. She cried out and gushed against his mouth. He had her right at the edge when he pulled back, kissing the creases where her thighs met her body and brushing his fingertips lightly on her breasts. "No!" She moaned in frustration. "Don't stop, please." She bucked against him, trying to get closer to his teasing mouth. Groaning, Simon slid his tongue over her again, suddenly desperate to bring her off. He pinched her nipples again, tugging on them lightly, just as he sucked her clit as far into his mouth as he could. Her cries echoed in his ears and her juices flowed against his mouth. He lay his head on her thigh and waited for her to come down, then started flicking his tongue against her entrance, lapping up her orgasm and quickly building her up again. She came again quicker than he expected, moaning out his name. Dazed and gasping, Kaylee lay in a boneless heap for a few minutes before she could lift her head. When she did, Simon was looking up at her with a wet mouth and a look of pure sex in his eyes. "I must say, Dr. Tam." She cooed softly. "For someone who ain't always so good at talkin', you do know how to use your mouth." She pushed herself up and pounced on him, kissing him and licking her wetness from his lips before sliding her tongue into his mouth. "Your turn." She whispered, pushing him back. Simon could only watch, transfixed, as she reached down and wrapped her warm, soft hand around his cock, stroking up and down a few times before lowering her head and placing a kiss on the tip. She opened her mouth and took him in slowly, as far as she could, sucking gently as she moved back up, running her tongue around the head before sinking back down. She could taste both of them on his skin, and she found that so unbearably sexy that if she hadn't been so tired, she wouldn't have been able to resist reaching down between her thighs and getting herself off again. Well beyond any sort of coherent speech, Simon groaned and slid his hands into Kaylee's soft hair, calling on every ounce of self-control he had not to push her head down and thrust up into the soft, wet heat of her mouth. She wasn't making it easy on him, stroking him with her hands while her mouth worked him, sucking him deeper and harder, lightly grazing him with her teeth a few times. She moaned and hummed around him, her tongue vibrating against his throbbing shaft, driving him closer and closer to a blinding orgasm. Kaylee felt an irresistable sense of power and pride as Simon's hips arched up, as she tasted the precome that seeped out against her tongue. She knew all the signs that he was getting close, the way his breath came out in short, fast pants, the tension in his body, the swelling in the base of his cock. He gave a soft, surprised grunt as his climax hit, and she swallowed his come greedily, amazed that he had anything left after everything they'd done. Feeling very pleased with herself, she cleaned his softening length with her tongue, smiling when it pulsed in response to the contact. The aftershocks of his release were still coursing through Simon's body when he opened his eyes and looked down at Kaylee. She was smiling up at him, licking her lips and looking so beautiful that he could only say the first thing that came to mind. "Marry me." "Shen me?" Kaylee blinked, not sure her sex-addled brain had heard him right. Simon groaned when he realized what he had said. "Oh, God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Her eyes narrowed and he quickly corrected himself. "I mean, I did, I meant to ask you. I've been thinking about it for weeks. I just didn't plan to do it like this." "What's wrong with askin' me like this?" Kaylee asked, still trying to process what she was hearing. "Well, we're naked." Simon pointed out. "And you just had your mouth on my...and I don't even have a ring. God, I screwed this up." Kaylee crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Well, you can't have screwed up that bad...because I'm saying yes." "Yes?" Now it was Simon's turn to be confused. "You mean, you-" Her kiss answered his question before he'd finished asking it. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes!" She kept saying it as he embraced her, scattering kisses all over her face. They ended up lying back on the couch again, with Simon on top of Kaylee, kissing her soundly as she laughed and tears rolled down her face. "Of course I'll marry you, Simon. I love you." "I love you, too." He whispered, kissing her once more before laying his head on her chest to listen to her heartbeat. He closed his eyes as she stroked his hair with one hand and his back with the other. _________________________ "Ain't right." Jayne muttered. "Where's he get off, hittin' me with that bottle?" "Well, you did punch him." Mal pointed out. "And that comment about his sister was a little low." "How was I supposed to know she was his sister?" Jayne protested. "Where I'm from, sisters don't hang all over their brothers like that." "Let's just find the Doc, make sure you don't need stitches." Mal led the way down the stairs into the common area. "Him and Kaylee are probably in bed." He stopped short at the bottom of the steps. "Or passed out on the couch." Jayne chuckled. Then he groaned. "Aw, now why's he gotta be on top of her like that? I don't need to see his ass." "I don't need to see any of that." Mal turned his head, trying to get rid of the image of his medic lying naked on top of his equally naked mechanic. Inara came down the stairs at that moment. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle when she saw the couple. "Well, it seems they had a very busy day." "They...on the couch..." Mal groaned, shaking his head in disbelief. "Aw, hell, just flip the cushions over." Jayne shrugged. "Bi zui." Inara ordered, brushed past the two men. Simon and Kaylee were both starting to stir, and she quickly grabbed a blanket off the back of a chair and covered them with it. "Out, both of you." She said to Mal and Jayne. The captain and the mercenary both turned to go, still grumbling. Inara just rolled her eyes and looked back at the pair on the couch, who were waking up slowly but surely. "'Nara!" Kaylee gasped, almost knocking Simon off the couch as she tried to sit up. "When did you get back?" "Relax, the others aren't here." Inara said as the two of them stammered. "River's in her bunk trying on her new dress, Zoe's in the cargo bay, and Mal and Jayne...well, they didn't see too much before I chased them out." "Oh God." Simon groaned, pulling the blanket tighter around himself and Kaylee, who was blushing and laughing nervously. "Why don't you two go get dressed?" Inara suggested. "Dinner's in about twenty minutes. I imagine you two worked up quite an appetite today." ______________________ "We could just stay in here." Simon suggested, pulling on a pair of boxer shorts. "Just a few days, until they forget about it." Kaylee laughed. "Come on, honey, it ain't so bad." She tugged a t-shirt over her head and grabbed a pair of pants. "Easy for you to say. I was on top." Simon pointed out. "Aw." Kaylee smiled and hugged him. "Just think, though, when we tell them our good news, they'll forget all about your naked butt." "Right, because Mal will be tossing my butt out the airlock." Simon said, only half-joking. "I wouldn't let him do that, and you know it." Kaylee kissed him softly. She cupped his cheek with her left hand and he took it, kissing her bare ring finger. "I'm going to get you a ring." He promised. "Eventually." "I know you will." Kaylee whispered. "I don't need one to know I'm yours, though. And you're mine." "Always." Simon vowed. He kissed her again, lightly. "Happy anniversary." ___________________________ "Hi there." Mal said with an exaggerated grin when the couple entered the dining area. "You two have a fun day? And please feel free to limit your answer to just one or two words."

"This whole ship reeks of copulation." River complained loudly. "That pretty much covers it." Kaylee chirped. "Thanks." Mal said to River. "Hi, mei-mei." Simon ignored his sister's comments. "Did you have a good time with Inara?" River shot him a look as he reached out to touch her shoulder. "Don't. This is a new dress and I know where that hand has been." Then she looked at Kaylee and burst out giggling. "You've got a secret." "Something you two want to share?" Mal asked.

"Well, yes, there is." Simon replied. He put one arm around Kaylee, who was grinning wide enough to split her face, and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. "Everyone, earlier this evening, Kaylee here suffered a rather severe lapse in judgement and agreed to become my wife." There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Mal spoke up. "Doc, did you get my mechanic in trouble?" "No!" Simon glared at the captain. "Well, good." Mal nodded. "Congrats, then." Jayne chuckled. "Aw, shiny. I love a weddin'." More silence. "What?" Jayne shrugged. "Booze, bridesmaids?" "Well, congratulations." Zoe said with a small smile. "Kaylee, glad you're making an honest man out of the Doc." "Nah, she's just marryin' him." Mal joked, grinning. Inara shot him a look as she brushed by him to hug Kaylee and Simon. "I'm so happy for you both." She was almost overcome with emotion as she gave them each a kiss on the cheek.

River just smiled up at her brother. "Not such a boob after all." ________________________ Hours later, the ship was silent as Mal crept along the catwalk and knocked on the door of Inara's shuttle. "I find it endlessly amusing that now you've learned to knock first." She teased as she opened the door and stepped aside to admit him. "Well, I figure my chances might be better if I don't annoy ya." He chuckled. "When do you not annoy me?" Inara shot back. Mal frowned, and she smiled at him as she leaned in for a kiss. "So, still think shipboard romances are nothing but trouble?" "Actually, yeah." Mal replied, sliding his hands into her hair and tilting her face up. "But the last couple weeks, I've started thinking maybe they're worth the trouble."